Australian Violin Teachers On-Line Guide

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Catherine Dobbie B.A. (Syd.) , L.T.C.L. , A.T.C.L. , A.Mus.A. , A.S.C.M., Grad.Dip.Ed.

Australian Violinist & Music Educator

Catherine Dobbie is one of Australia's leading violin teachers. She is regarded as a leading figure in music education in Sydney and has twice been recognised by the Australian Music Examinations Board with the award of the A.M.E.B. Private Music Teacher Shield.

Following her primary education at SCEGGS, Catherine completed her secondary education at MLC School (where she was awarded the Lindley Evans Prize for Music) and the Conservatorium High School in Sydney followed by advanced musical studies with acclaimed Australian violinist Christopher Kimber and the Australian composer and pianist Marjorie Hesse. While completing her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Sydney she continued her violin studies and also studied singing with Grant Dickson at the Sydney Conservatorium. As violinist with the Pogodin Trio, Catherine has performed for the University of Sydney and has broadcast for Radio 2MBS-FM.

As a Director of the Sydney International Music Camps, Catherine has been involved with stimulating music education by bringing together young musicians to experience the joys of orchestral music making. In 1994 she was appointed Sydney Representative for the Trinity College London International Examinations Program before moving on to her current position as Co- Editor of the Sydney Directory of Music & Speech Teachers with her twin brother Warrick.

Following violin teaching positions at Trinity Grammar School, Meriden School and PLC Sydney, Catherine established herself as one of Sydney's leading violin teachers and now teaches exclusively at her own private studio located at the heart of Sydney's inner west education belt. Many of her students have had great success in gaining sought after music scholarships at Sydney private schools, a recent highlight saw two of Sydney's leading private schools each offering one of Catherine's students a full music scholarship both covering 100% of the student's school fees for Years 7 to 12.

Contact Details :

Phone : (02) 9744 9654

Askar Nurlanov Masters Degree ( Moscow Conservatoire )

Teacher of Violin

Mr Nurlanov has had a successful teaching career for many years.He has taught Violin in Conservatories in Russia (Moscow), Kazakhstan (Alma-Ata) and Australia (Sydney). Mr.Nurlanov teaches students at both primary and tertiary level at his Studio in Pymble. Many of his students obtain excellent results in various examinations and are often prizewinners in Violin competitions. Mr Nurlanov received his Masters Diploma with Distinction from Moscow State Conservatoire. He has worked with many Russian and Australian Symphony and Chamber Orchestras.Mr.Nurlanov performes many Solo and Chamber Music Recitals.

Contact Details :

Phone : 9488 8095

Mobile : 0415 277671

Alla Rozumiak Degree : Orchestra Soloist, Ensemble Performer, Tutor (USSR)

Teacher of Violin and Piano

Alla received her early musical training at the Special Music High School for Gifted Children in Kiev, Ukraine, studying with Nina Minko. She furthered her studies at the Kiev State Conservatory (class of Prof. Bogodar Kotorovich ). During her period of study, she was awarded the Liatoschinsky Memorial Scholarship for the most outstanding students.

Alla is a Laureate of the International Competition of Chamber Ensembles "Premio Vittorio Gui", Florence Italy (1989). She has held the following positions overseas; Principal Violinist with the Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra in Yalta, Ukraine; Concertmaster of the Symphonic Orchestra for the Opera and Operette Theatre in Szczecin, Poland , and worked with the National Music Conservatory in Amman, Jordan as Concertmaster of the National Orchestra, Violinist-in-Residence and violin and chamber music teacher.

Since coming to Australia in 1995, Alla has participated in performances with the National Chamber Opera, National Philharmonic Orchestra and Willoughby Symphony Orchestra. She is currently teaching privately ( in the Sydney suburb of Carlingford ) and working as Musical Director and 1st Violinist of the "Russian String Quartet".

Contact details :

Phone : (02) 9683 3704

Mobile : 0416 198521

Louisa Brand MACE, M.Ed.Admin., Grad.Dip.Ed.(UNE), B.Mus.(Hons.), L.Mus.A.(viola), A.Mus.A.(violin), JP

Teacher of Violin & Viola

Louisa has extensive qualifications and experience as a performer, teacher and examiner. She is a bubbly people person who loves working with young people, makes lessons fun, produces excellent AMEB exam results, helps students to attain music scholarships in private schools, helps students with their school orchestra music and inspires students to practise, perform and attend concerts.

Louisa studied violin and viola with Alex Todicescu before accepting a full scholarship to the University of Michigan USA to study viola in the Bachelor of Music program with world renowned violist Yizhak Schotten. She has taught at many exclusive private schools including being the Coordinator of K-6 Music at Ravenswood, Reddam House and at The Hills Grammar School, she was the Head of Strings at Scotch College in WA and at Abbotsleigh in NSW, she was a violin and viola examiner for the AMEB in WA and has also taught at Kambala, SCECGS Redlands, St. Aloysius’ College and the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music.

Louisa is dedicated to string music education and was the Vice President of the Australian and New Zealand Viola Society for many years. She has attended conferences in Seattle, Canberra, Newcastle, Perth, Sydney and Switzerland.

Louisa has played with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, the Wollongong Symphony Orchestra, the Manly Warringah Orchestra and currently performs with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra and is the Principal Violist in the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra. Louisa is also a renowned soloist, having won the Ku-ring-gai Concerto Competition in 1992 and the ABC’s Young Artist’s Program in 1993. She has performed as a soloist with many orchestras around the world, including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the SBS Orchestra, the Strathfield Symphony Orchestra, the Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic, the University of Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra.

Contact Details :

Mobile: 0419 010 692

Teaching studio located in Gordon

Janet Silverton A.S.C.M., D.S.C.M., Grad.Dip.Ed.

Teacher of Viola, Violin & Piano

Janet Silverton completed her music diplomas at the Sydney Conservatorium after completing her schooling at the Conservatorium High School. During that time she studied with Igor Hmelnitsky on piano and Alex Todicescu and Harry Curby on viola. In the 80's and 90's, Janet freelanced regularly on viola with Sydney’s major professional orchestras including Sydney Symphony and the Australian Opera and Ballet orchestra. She currently directs and plays in the Leonora Ensemble.

Janet is an experienced teacher of piano, violin/viola and is also an experienced accompanist. She has successfully entered students for AMEB and St Cecilia exams.

Contact Details

Mobile : 0417 657 178

Studio located in the Bondi/Waverley Area.

Rodney Wikstrom C.O.G.E. (UNSW) , M.Teach (Syd.) , B.Mus.Studies (Sydney Con.) , A.Mus.A.

Teacher of Violin

Rodney began learning violin at age 3 and at 12 he won a high school scholarship at Kinross Wolaroi School in Orange. In 1997 he entered the Sydney Conservatorium High School and was awarded the Associate Diploma of Music by the A.M.E.B (A.Mus.A). After completing the HSC he undertook tertiary study at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and began playing with youth orchestras and became a member of ‘The Real Mexico’ Mariachi band. In 1999 he formed Sydney Ensemble.

In 2001 Rodney developed an interest in music education and began teaching violin in schools. Since this time some of his students have gained acceptance into orchestras of the Sydney Youth Orchestra Association and have been offered scholarships to private schools. In 2001 he toured South America with The Real Mexico. In 2004 after completing a Bachelor of Music Studies he began post-graduate study with the Master of Teaching program at Sydney University. Throughout this time he has continued to play with Sydney Ensemble and The Real Mexico in addition to orchestras, touring extensively throughout Europe and Asia.

In addition to teaching violin, Rodney also teaches classroom music at the high school level. His contribution in a broader educational context enables more children to develop sensitivity, discipline, patience, and a love of music. Together with his performing and teaching experience Rodney is committed to the musical education of children. He shares his appealing real-life musical experiences and broad repertoire in his teaching as an inspiration to his students.

Contact Details -

Ph. 0434 085 940

Studio located at Castle Hill in Sydney.

Marek Kruszynski Master of Arts (Gdansk, Poland)

Teacher of Violin

Marek has an extensive career both as a performer and violin teacher. In 1989 he graduated from Stanislaw Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdansk, Poland faculty of instrumental studies specialising in violin becoming Master of Arts.

Marek was a Concertmaster in several professional symphonic and chamber orchestras in Poland.  He is a Winner of First and Third Prize of Violin State Competitions.

Marek has an extensive career as a solo performer. At the age of 9 he publically performed a violin concerto for the first time with the professional symphonic orchestra. He received outstanding press reviews both in Australia and oversees.

1987-1991 Marek took part in numerous international tours and festivals across Europe performing in such venues like The Munich Philharmonic, Alte Opera in Frankfurt and Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

1992-1994 member of Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) and since 1994 permanent member of Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra (AOBO) also as a guest Concertmaster.

Marek has also outstanding achievements being a violin teacher for 30 years. His students are winners of First Prize in Violin Competitions, as well as High Distinction Certificates in Practice of music AMEB, Distinction Certificate for Outstanding Performance and Honours commendations.

Contact Details:

Mob: 0421 081 893

Studio located in Castle Hill area.

Agnieszka Rypel-Polkas MA (Music Ed.) , B.Teach. , Dip.Mus.

Teacher of Violin

Agnieszka has over 20 years experience in teaching the violin to students of all ages and abilities.

She graduated from the well known High Conservatorium of Music School in Poland in 1986 and continued to pursue her music training at University. She gained a Masters Degree in Music Education at the Higher Pedagogical School of Music and continued her studies in Australia with a Bachelor of Teaching at the University of Sydney.

She has taught music at several High Schools in the Sydney region, tutored music in Primary Schools and continues to tutor theory and musicology along with violin performance. Recent public performances have included playing violin with the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House and numerous performances with the Strathfield Symphony Orchestra and Solar Chamber Orchestra.

She currently teaches from her studio in Ashfield.

Contact Details:

Phone 0404 041 965

Henry Avila Diploma : Violin Concert Performer & Teacher / M.A.

Teacher of Violin

He began his musical studies at the Juan Manuel Olivares Music School in Caracas, Venezuela.   From 1983-1987 Henry attended courses at the Julliard School of Music in New York, where he took classes with Lewis Kaplan, Glenn Dicterow and Margaret Pardee.

In 1988 Henry won a scholarship to continue his studies in the former USSR, with Aram Shamshian (former student of Konstantin Mostras). Henry completed his Degree as a Violin Concert Performer, Teacher & Master of Arts. Henry has performed as a soloist with orchestra and has performed violin and piano recitals overseas as well as in Australia.

Since arriving to Australia Henry has taught at the Australian Institute of Music, Newington College, and University of Western Sydney. He is currently Director of Strings of Burwood Girls High School and responsible for string programs conducted in various Schools in the Inner West of Sydney. He also teaches at Santa Sabina College.

Along with his teaching career, he actively continues to perform as a soloist, as a member of the Cambridge String Quartet and as well as the Musical Director of the group-band Fiesta Viva

His studio is located in the Bexley North area.

Contact details :

Mobile : 0416 013 370

Beata Stanowska M.A. (Violin - Poland)

Teacher of Violin

Beata has extensive experience as a performer and music teacher. She gained her qualifications in Lyceum of Music in Warsaw, Poland and completed her Master of Arts study in the class of Professor T. Kochanski, in the Academy of Music in Gdansk – Faculty of Instrumental Studies, where she held a concertmaster position with the Symphonic Orchestra.

She was awarded a distinction in the National Children Violin Competition in Lancut (Poland). Beata became a principal violinist with both the State Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra and Baltic Chamber Orchestra, with which she toured extensively throughout Europe, including France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and Spain. She has performed at such famous venues as The Munich Philharmonic, Alte Oper in Frankfurt and Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

Since arriving in Australia in 1992, Beata performed with Willoughby Symphonic Orchestra (leader), East-West Symphonic Orchestra, Amadeus Players (co-leader), Macquarie Symphony Orchestra and Choir at the Macquarie University (leader), and a variety of string ensembles. In 1995 she gave her solo performance during the Gala Concert with WSO, receiving an excellent review.

For many years, she has enjoyed a successful private teaching practice in a variety of schools in Sydney, such as North Ryde, Asquith, Balmain, Sutherland, Bellevue Hills, to name a few. In 1998 she established a Music Studio in Balmain providing music tuition in violin, piano, and musicianship. Her students are highly regarded in AMEB, achieving high distinctions on their exams, and many were recipients of scholarships to private schools. Beata’s students were also successful in Eisteddfod competitions in Ryde, where they were awarded 1st, 2nd , 3rd prizes and high commendations.

Contact Details -

Phone : (02) 8850 4805

Mobile : 0410 480 564

Studios located at Balmain and Castle Hill.

Teri Singer A.Mus.A.

Teacher of Violin

Teri Singer attended the Conservatorium High School in the 70's studying with Carl Pini and Robert Pikler. She continued her studies at Indiana University in the US with Professor Jozef Gingold and later Yair Kless at Bar Ilan University in Israel. She was a founding member of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, performing with them for many years in Australia and overseas. She later became a member of the Israel Chamber Orchestra and has freelanced in the Utah Symphony Orchestra and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra where she still plays on occasion. She is an experienced chamber musician having played with the Robert Pikler Quartet in the Aldeburgh Festival and Wigmore Hall, and the Ariel Trio with performances in The Sydney Opera House and Conservatorium of Music. She's taught privately for many years and for over a decade at St. Andrews Cathedral School as well.

Teri teaches at all levels and has prepared her students for auditions, AMEB exams and University entrance performance. She currently also teaches several adult students wishing to pursue violin for leisure.

Contact Details -

Mobile : 0410 627596

Studios located at Rose Bay in Sydney.

Disclaimer : These personal profiles appear as supplied by the individual teachers and have not been edited or varied in any way by the Sydney Directory of Music & Speech Teachers. Any views expressed therefore are those of the individuals themselves and the Sydney Directory of Music & Speech Teachers disclaims any responsibility for their content.